Meet the Team

  • A young woman with curly hair, wearing glasses, hoop earrings, a striped shirt, and layered necklaces, smiling indoors.

    Işıl Hamdemir

    PRESIDENT

    Isil is a scientist and the founder of a personal care company based in Seattle. She graduated from Middle East Technical University (METU) with a BSc degree in Chemistry and from Colorado State University with a PhD. After moving to Seattle in 2015, she completed a PostDoc at the Institute of Systems Biology. She is a mother of two boys.

  • Smiling woman with shoulder-length black hair wearing a blue top, in a lush green indoor garden or greenhouse.

    Kerem Okyay

    VICE PRESIDENT

    Kerem is a buyer at City of Bellevue Fleet Operations. He was born and raised in Izmir, Turkey. With over a decade of experience in the automotive sector, he has specialized in sales and marketing.He has a BA in Business Economics to complement his professional expertise.

  • A man with dark curly hair, glasses, and a beard, looking to the side, wearing a dark green sweater.

    Alper Altay

    SECRETARY

    Alper has 15 years of banking experience and currently works as a treasury manager. He was born in Eskisehir and holds a BS degree from Sabanci University and MS from Bogazici University. Lives in the Seattle area since 2022 and is a father of one.

  • A man with curly dark hair, glasses, and a beard, looking to the side with a slight smile, sitting indoors with a blurred plant in the background.

    Onur Ozdemir

    TREASURER

    Onur is a finance professional with over 20 years of experience across a wide range of sectors including aviation, consumer goods, telecommunication, and real estate. He holds a BA degree from Bogazici University. He was born in Kayseri, Turkiye, and is father of two kids.

  • A woman with shoulder-length black hair and a big smile, wearing a blue top, standing among green plants.

    Sehribanu Ulusoy

    SOCIAL CHAIR

    Sehribanu is a mechanical engineer with 10+ years of experience and a BSc from METU, along with MSc degrees from UNR and UW.She currently develops innovative medical technologies. She has been a dedicated volunteer with TACAWA since 2016, contributing to events like Turkfest, ICFF, and the Turkish Republic Ball. She is a mother of two boys.

  • Close-up of a smiling woman with curly black hair, glasses, hoop earrings, and layered necklaces, in a warmly lit room.

    Yasemin Gumrah Yesilyurt

    SUBSTITUTE DIRECTOR

    Yasemin is an expert in human behavior and psychology with over 20 years of experience. After graduating from Istanbul University, she worked for many years as a corporate and individual consultant. In 2024, she moved to Seattle, where she continues her academic and professional work. Born in Bolu, Turkey, she is married and has one child.

  • Erem Ugras

    SUBSTITUTE DIRECTOR

    Erem is a seasoned mechanical engineer with 15 years of experience. He currently works as a robotics engineer in the tech industry. Passionate about music, he is also an active member of the band Şehri Seattle.

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